Oklahoma lawmakers are abandoning plans to build a $150 million mental health hospital at OSU-OKC, announcing that the state will instead renovate an existing facility in Oklahoma City to replace Griffin Memorial Hospital.
Initial Promise: $150 Million Mental Health Hospital at OSU-OKC
In March of 2024, Oklahoma leaders ceremonially broke ground on what was forecasted to be a state-of-the-art mental health hospital and campus located at OSU-OKC, costing $150 million.
But construction never began; in fact, lawmakers on Monday explained, the land had not even been sold to the state.
“At least one site in Oklahoma City has been identified, which can be renovated to meet the needs to replace the beds at Griffin Memorial Hospital,” Sen. John Haste, R-Broken Arrow, told the Joint Committee on Pandemic Relief Funding during a meeting on Monday. “This pivot from new construction to renovation will save the state both time and money.”
Frustrations Mount Over Budget Crisis and Delays
Frustrations over the change of plans add to already increased tensions at the state capitol as the Oklahoma Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services experiences a budget crisis…